Evaluation of the Effect of Khat Consumption on Complete Blood Count - Sana’a City - Yemen

Abstract

This is descriptive case control study, from April 2013 to April 2014,aimed to determine the effect of khat chewing on CBC parameters in Yemen – sana,a .The 329 blood samples were collected from selected were adult Yemenis healthy individuals (289 male and 40 females) at age range between 18-65 =years. Informed consent was obtained from participants (269 khat chewers and 60 control), then 5ml of venous blood was collected in EDTA container, was withdrawn to investigate CBC component for each participant following a well design questionnaire .The result of this study showed that, the means values for Hb , PCV , RBC ,WBC , MCV , M,CH , MCHC and RDW were 15.63g/dl, 47.02%, 5400000c/cmm, 6.400 mm3, 84.61 fl, 28.61 pg , 32.83 g/dl , and 14.32 % respectively. This results indicated that the mean values of CBC components were not statistically different from that of control (P >0.05), except the platelets count (P <0.05). The result also showed that the blood film was normal in all individuals except platelets in some cases were inadequate (less than normal). The results of khat consumption when combined to smoking showed that the mean values of Hb, PCV, RBC and platelets count were statistically different from that of control. The study also found no associated between duration of khat chewing, dose of khat on one hand and change on values of tested CBC components on the other. The result of the study showed that, the mean values for differential count white cell Nutro, Lymph and Mono, were 49.82%, 38.89% and 6.59% respectively. This results indicated that the mean values of differential count white cell were not statistically different from that of control (P >0.05), except the Eosnophil count (P <0.05) This study concluded that, khat consumption has no effect on all haematological parameters except reduced platelets, the action of khat was affected by duration but not affected by gender, and does of khat consumption has no effect on all CBC parameters tested in this study.